Salutatorian Speech by Mihaela Gurau

Good evening family, friends, teachers, administrators, staff and distinguished guests.

My name is Mihaela Gurau.

It is with great pleasure and pride that I stand here today and introduce to you the graduating class of 2011!

I would like to start by recalling my first moments at this school. When I came to LIBI for the first time, it was to just ask a few questions. I didn't know what I needed to become a student and what program I wanted to study, but from the first moment in the admissions office it took only few hours until I became a LIBI student. Yes, the entire process was really easy and smooth. For that, I want to thank Sandra. You are doing a great job, you are really nice and that is why I liked to pass by your office and just say hi, when you weren’t busy of course.

My first class at LIBI also remains in my memories. I was not sure about the school, and how I was going to fit in. I wanted to learn and improve myself, and as if he was reading my mind, the teacher said, “Coming to this school is the best choice that all of you have made today because here you have the opportunity to study and really learn something." And you know what professor Davy? You were right!

I want to talk about the teachers in this school. They are extremely helpful, understanding, and put in a lot of hard work so that we can say today:" I can do this job." If we had any question, even if it was not during the class, but rather in the hallway, learning center or even in the elevator, they would not hesitate to answer. It is amazing how much dedication the teachers in this school have. Including you Mr. Leone, I did not have you as a teacher, but I did enjoy your monologues in the learning center.

This school is truly a miniature melting pot, just like they say about New York. Here I learned that I should not be ashamed that I am a foreigner; that I can keep my head up and speak my English even if I still have an accent as long is correct.

Here I saw people trying really hard to study, and I saw that it does not matter the age or the ethnicity. Hats off to all of you, who are older, all of you who worked full time while going to school, all of you who have kids to take care at the same time, all of you who commute to school from Brooklyn, The Bronx or Long Island, every effort to graduate is admirable. It is a great lesson to all of us to believe in ourselves, to dream, to try and to do well.

I made a lot of friends in the school; from fellow students with who we shared so many moments together. I will cherish them, and please do not kick me out from your face book account after this, to teachers and staff. Professor Runcie, anything we discussed was always interesting, thank you for staying by our sides all this time. I have to thank the school for giving me the opportunity to work in the Learning Center. It was such a fulfilling experience to help other students. It also it gave me the opportunity to meet Cristian. For those who do not know him, he is the person working in the Learning Center. Cristian, you have to know that you are a great asset to this school. I enjoyed working for you in the Learning Center and I want to thank you for all of your guidance.

I want to close by thanking my family. Mom and Dad who helped me pay the bills sometimes. My daughter who is such a good kid doing her homework even when mommy is not home: 'I love you, Sandra!"; and a big, big thank you to my friend Elisabeth for taking good care of my daughter while I was in school. Bill thank you for being here and sharing this moment with me.

I would like to close by saying to you what a friend recently told me: "Be proud of yourself, maybe you do not think so, but it is a big deal that you graduated college."

Congratulations to all of my classmates and thank you.